Articles Tagged with: Senior travel Wisconsin

Seniors Make A Stop In West Allis

West Allis, a city that senior travelers will find five miles west of Milwaukee derives its name from Edward P. Allis whose company was a large Milwaukee-area manufacturing firm in the late 19th century.

In 1901, the Allis Company became Allis-Chalmers, and in 1902 built a large new manufacturing plant west of its existing plant. The locale in which the new plant was constructed was at the time called North Greenfield, and prior to the 1880s had been called Honey Creek. With the building of the western Allis plant, the area became the City of West Allis in 1906.

The Wisconsin State Fair Park, which includes the Milwaukee Mile is the site of the annual Wisconsin State Fair held in August, and located in West Allis. Facebook is a good link for suggestions on visiting a museum, a park, where to shop and good choices for dinner.

Festivals And Celebrations Attract Senior Visitors

National Night Out held in July is an annual crime prevention event sponsored by Aurora West Allis Medical Center. This community festival is designed to strengthen neighborhood spirit, and promote crime and drug prevention awareness.

Senior visitors can enjoy some of the celebrations that take place all year long in West Allis that include the Cinco de Mayo Springfest, the Harvest Fair & World Beef Expo and the Gi Wise Gises Pow Wow.

The Milwaukee Area Technical College calls West Allis home. Nearby, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University provide additional educational opportunities.

Voted ‘Best Place to Raise Your Kids’

A local realtor notes that West Allis was voted the “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” in the Milwaukee area by Business Week for 2010. West Allis prides itself as a community with “strong principles of family and work.”

West Allis was named Winner in the 2016 WfMC Global Awards for Excellence in Business Process Management. West Allis goes all out for Independence Day and makes the celebration last for several days. Activities include the Breakfast of Champions, an event that honors either West Allis high school students for their achievements or West Allis veterans.

The Wisconsin Exposition Center hosts a wide variety of great events. Donald Trump helped to put West Allis on the map when he visited the city on Sunday, April 3, 2016 for an event held at the Nathan Hale High School Gym.

Seniors will discover an attractive, active city. Take a look at the events for next year and plan a stop in West Allis during one of these celebrations and enjoy! -jeb

Seniors Like the Village of La Farge

This senior came across the La Farge, Wisconsin on a Half&Half milk carton. La Farge is the home of Organic Valley, an organic farmer-owned cooperative. My organic family and I enjoy their products very much.

Organic Valley’s headquarters are a shining example of a true “green building.” Organic Valley hosts the Kickapoo Country Fair the Kickapoo Country Fair on its grounds on the last weekend in July, a celebration that includes live music, sustainability workshops, and rural heritage exhibits.

La Farge is located along the Kickapoo River in Vernon County, Wisconsin. The residential community of Dreamtime Village is located near La Farge.

Seniors Drawn To Wisconsin’s Secret Paradise

La Farge has a long and interesting history and a population today that runs just under 800 residents. This small picturesque farming community sits about 20 miles from the Elroy-Sparta State Bike Trail.

La Farge is a year-round recreational destination, renowned for canoeing, trout fishing, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and hunting. A canoe landing and camping area are available to senior visitors in the village park.

La Farge has been called “A Secret Paradise In southwest Wisconsin” where farmers enjoy life in the Driftless Region, known as “An Enchanted Land.”

Seniors Discover the Kickapoo Valley Reserve

I’d be interested in visiting the Kickapoo Valley Reserve where seniors will find a high diversity of plant communities, and significant archeological and geological features, as well asan extensive system of rustic trails for equestrians, bikers, and hikers.

Meandering through the site is the scenic Kickapoo River bordered by numerous sheer cliffs and forested bluffs. The Center is huge with an 8569 acre tract of land jointly owned by the State of Wisconsin and the Ho- Chunk Nation and set aside for recreational and educational purposes.

Rising some 350 feet above the river are the Ocooch Mountains, a region of forested hills, lush valleys, and sandstone cliffs that stretch beyond the Kickapoo River watershed roughly from Spring Green on the east to Viroqua on the west.

Get up some courage and boat down the river from Rockton to LaFarge for some Wisconsin fun. Anyway you slice it, this part of Wisconsin is the “real thing” where senior visitors will find quaint and picturesque villages, dairy farms and beautiful scenic countryside. -jeb

Seniors Discover Seed Spitting

The big draw to Pardeeville, Wisconsin is the 49th Annual Fall Festival featuring watermelons. Seniors, drop by and enjoy both the Watermelon Speed-Eating and Watermelon Seed Spitting contest.

The women’s record for eating is 4.48s and men’s 6.37s. Now the spitting part last year went to Mike Walton who spit a seed 29.7 inches. Katie Kaz beat him with a 32.6 inch fling. Pretty impressive, right? Just try it yourself sometime. Hint: Use a large seed. Hear what a judge says about the seed spitting contest. Looks like a lot of fun to me.

Be sure to take a look at the various events that include the largest watermelon, watermelon carving and a host of other fun things to do.

Seniors Smile At Strange Town Names

If you think Pardeeville is a strange name, just poke around Wisconsin and you will see others. Anyway, let’s visit Pardeeville (The City of Lakes) and see what else might attract seniors.

The community was named after John S. Pardee, American diplomat who died in Nicaragua. Pardeeville is a village in Columbia County with a population that runs around 2,200.

Senior travelers will find Pardeeville 35 miles north of Madison on highway 22. The scenic Fox River begins as a small stream northeast of Pardeeville and is dammed in Pardeeville to create both Spring Lake and Park Lake.

Seniors Enjoy Lakes

Pardeeville hosts a Triathlon that brings in athletes of all ages. This spectator-friendly 1/4 mile swim, 15 mile bike ride and 5K run course weaves through the town after a good loop around the park.

Senior campers might enjoy Indian Trails Campground. There are several hiking trails around Pardeeville, ingest some ideal Wisconsin air and enjoy the scenic routes.

Notable people who hail from Pardeeville include Mark Bortz, former all-pro guard for the Chicago Bears, Claude Elliott, Major League Baseball pitcher and Debbie McCormick, Olympic athlete, world champion curler.

The Angie Cox Memorial Library is an historic building that folks of all ages enjoy. Senior boaters will find seasonal boat slips available on Park Lake and they are state of the art floating piers. Park Lake is a great spot for watching awesome sunsets almost every evening. Enjoy your visit. -jeb

Seniors Stop In West Bend

Senior travelers will find West Bend 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The population runs right at 32,000. Before the arrival of European settlers in southeastern Wisconsin, the Potawatomi and Menominee Indians inhabited the land now occupied by the city of West Bend.

In 1845 early settler Barton Salisbury, while on a surveying trip up the Milwaukee River, found a rapids that he believed would be a good source of power for a sawmill. He built a log hut on the west side of the river and the village of Barton was born. On November 1, 1961, the city of West Bend annexed the Village of Barton.

The Milwaukee River played a pivotal role in the history of the city. It was named West Bend because of the western bend in the river. In 1873, the first railroad tracks were laid through West Bend, paving the way for population growth and industrialization.

Seniors Find City Of Parks And Green Space

The local Chamber of Commerce notes that “West Bend is situated in one of Wisconsin’s most scenic areas, is conveniently near Milwaukee, and combines the best of small town and big city living…”

West Bend has a paved river walk that snakes through the city along the banks of the Milwaukee River. The Eisenbahn State Trail, a Rails to Trails project, has added another trail for walking, running, biking, and roller skating.

The 1,000-mile National Ice Age Trail crosses through West Bend, a city that has over 1,200 acres of parks and green space.

In addition to numerous parks and bike/pedestrian trails, Lac Lawrann Conservancy, offers a 137-acre nature preserve and 5 miles of trails, so toss in your hiking boots.

Seniors Enjoy Cache Ba$h

Seniors can have a sample of Lithia Beer that is brewed at the West Bend Brewing Co. Entertainment on Thursday nights in the summer is provided by Music on Main. The street in downtown West Bend is closed to traffic and a different band takes the stage at Old Settler’s Park each week.

Maxwell Street Days features more than 700 spaces filled with antiques and collectibles and German Fest are two summer events held in the downtown area. Riverfest (formerly Seafood Fest) is West Bend’s Premier Food and Music Festival and a more recent annual event in Riverside Park is JazzFest.

West Bend, Wisconsin has been branded the “Geocaching Capital of the Midwest,” boasting over 1,200 caches within a 10-mile radius of the city. An annual “Cache Ba$h” has been sponsored by the West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce since 2008.

Geocaching is a recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website. Sound like fun? It is. Seniors are invited to enjoy the many amenities of West Bend. -jeb

Seniors Spend Time In Eau Claire

Eau Claire with a pop. of 68,000, took its name from Eau Claire County. Senior’s French lesson: “Eau Claire” is the singular form of the original French name, “Eaux Claires”, meaning “Clear Waters”, for the Eau Claire River.

According to local legend, the river was so named because early French explorers journeying down the rain-muddied Chippewa River, happened upon the Eau Claire River, excitedly exclaiming “Voici l’eau claire!” (“Here [is] clear water!”), the city motto, which appears on the city seal. The name is pronounced as if it were spelled “O’Clare”.

Eau Claire was established close to the convergence of the Eau Claire River and the Chippewa River as three settlements. In 1872 the city was incorporated. The main portion of downtown Eau Claire is situated on the site of the old village of Eau Claire.

Seniors Visit Former Lumber Town

The city was a thriving lumber town during the 1800′s and the lumber business was the primary factor for the growth of the city. After the timber was depleted, Eau Claire became known for agriculture and industry. Today Eau Claire thrives on its scenic views and businesses that are attractive to senior visitors.

The trails which follow the Chippewa River and the Eau Claire River provide excellent views and hiking and bicycle riding opportunities.

Located in the rolling hills and river valleys of western Wisconsin, the Eau Claire area offers natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and a rich heritage for senior travelers to enjoy.

In the summertime Eau Claire provides popular rock as well as country music festivals. During the winter, outdoor enthusiasts are provided with groomed cross-country skiing trails.

Seniors Enjoy Carson Park

Learn something about the history and culture of Eau Claire at the Chippewa Valley Museum, taste the greatness of local farms at the Downtown Farmer’s Market, or sip on a Leinie’s after you tour the brewery.

TripAdvisor suggests seniors visit Carson Park, which is a must in this city. Get a few shots of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox at the Logging Camp Museum.

The Half Moon Dragon Boat Festival and the Eau Claire Polar Plunge are fun events for spectators as well as the participants. Toss in your clubs and play round or two at either Hickory Hills or Wild Ridge Golf Course.

Eau Claire is more than just a city – it’s a tourist destination. Whether you need a day of pampering, a weekend filled with recreation, or an evening of sipping wine by candlelight, you can find it in this Wisconsin hot spot.

Ride down scenic bike trails, spend a day at the beach, catch a show at the theater, shop downtown, have fun at a weekend festival–you’ll never get bored in Eau Claire.

Seniors Find The “Other Vienna”

About the Town of Vienna: It is a 36-square-mile geographic and governmental unit located in northern Dane County, Wisconsin. Senior travelers will find Vienna conveniently located just north of Madison, home of the State Capitol.

The Town population is estimated to be 1,523 as of August 1, 2016. The unincorporated community of Norway Grove is located in the town.

The area around Vienna is unique. Dane County is a special place, home to more than 500,000 residents, Wisconsin’s State Capitol, world-class colleges and universities including the University of Wisconsin and Madison College, good schools, more than 60 cities, villages and towns, and some of the most productive farms in the state and the nation.

In Dane County, senior visitors can enjoy beautiful natural spaces with fish-filled lakes, rivers and streams, and parks abundant with opportunities for rest and relaxation. Dane County is also home to one of the few free zoos in the country.

Seniors Find Horses, A Cow And An Elephant

The Vienna Equestrian Center is a popular site for folks who enjoy horses. They offer both rough/pasture board or stall board.

In town, seniors will find trails for hiking, biking, and even bird watching. There are also ponds and streams for fishing, canoeing and kayaking nearby, an Outdoor Sports Center and A Sissy the Cow and Pinkie the Elephant.

Wisconsin welcomes senior visitors. Locals share hidden gems and festivals happen at the drop of a hat. Generations of families make memories and would like to share the real Wisconsin with you.

Seniors Enjoy The Dairy State

So stop by the Vienna Tourism Office in the Comfort Inn, located in the Town of Vienna. You can find connection to the Village of DeForest, Village of Windsor, Village of Waunakee and Village of Dane.

In addition, visitors will find an easy access both on and off of Interstate I90/94/39 where you will find lodging, food, gas and anything else you might need during your travels in Wisconsin, the Diary State. -jeb

Seniors Discover the “Spirit on the Lake”

The Spirit on the Lake is Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This senior has always liked that name “Sheboygan”. This city of around 50,000 is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan 50 mi north of Milwaukee and 64 mi south of Green Bay.

TripAdvisor suggests Bookworm Gardens followed by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. After those fun visits, I’d want to head off to the Sheboygan County Historical Society. They note that it is believed that in 1635 Jean Nicolet, the French explorer, was the first recorded European settler to have visited this locality.

Senior visitors will find plenty to see and do in Sheboygan. I counted nine additional museums in town. The Blue Harbor Resort is a classic lakeside getaway. The Lake View Mansion B&B is another choice for a stay with a memorable view of Lake Michigan. And seniors will find that Harbor Centre is a popular hangout.

Seniors Enjoy Views of Lake Michigan

From breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and large sandy beaches to world class sailing and premier charter fishing, this costal community is full of “spirit.” For time spent out of the water, the historic downtown district boasts unique shopping, dining, and entertainment for senior visitors.

Sheboygan has 34 beautiful parks and 3 athletic complexes that offer a variety of outdoor recreation options. The Hmong population (over 5,000) are part of the city, and like many towns in Wisconsin, Sheboygan has few readily apparent signs that such a large Hmong population is indeed there.

Sheboygan was officially founded in 1846 and lumbering was the first major industry. Trees were harvested and shipped to eastern markets through the Great Lakes. There are many theories as to how Sheboygan got its name, but most likely Sheboygan was a Chippewa Indian word meaning “passage or waterway between the lakes.”

Seniors Enjoy Downtown Historic District

You will find nine buildings, including four churches, in the downtown historic district that are worthy of National Register listing. In addition, The Sheboygan Indian Mound Park is a public park with 18 Indian burial mounds distributed over 15 acres.

Many of us remember the (in)famous ‘80′s commercials featuring the phrase, “Charlie’s cookin’ Johnsonville Brats!” Few others know that these are the very sausages that have made Sheboygan famous. Visitors can attend the annual Bratwurst Days festival as well as see the Dairyland Surf Classic, the largest lake surfing competition in the world.

Put your clubs in the trunk and play a couple of rounds at the Whistling Straits golf course that “Illuminates The Sheboygan Area” to get a taste of Pebble Beach right in the heart of the Midwest. It is where the 2015 PGA Tournament was played.

The University of Wisconsin has a campus in Sheboygan. My wife and I always enjoy a nice walk through the campus. Seems like something is going on all year long and all four seasons. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Fontana-on-Geneva Lake

Fontana-on-Geneva Lake is a village on the west shore of Geneva Lake, Wisconsin with a population of nearly 1,700. Fontana offers senior travelers the peace and serenity of a small town, but with easy accessibility from Milwaukee.

One of the favorite activities for visitors to Fontana is paddle boarding and you will see many folks who enjoy this fun activity on the Lake. For a fantastic bird’s eye view of Geneva Lake, take an unforgettable parasail ride via Jerry’s Majestic Marine. All takeoffs and landings are smooth and dry from the flight deck of a specially designed 32′ Ocean Pro boat.

If parasailing is not up to your liking, jump on a wave runner and enjoy cruising around Geneva Lake. The Abbey Resort is popular with senior guests featuring a 90 acre hotel property, complete with luxury spa resort and great dining options.

Natural Beauty of Geneva Lake Area Draws Seniors

The local Chamber notes that the Geneva Lake West shoreline communities of Fontana-0n-Geneva Lake , Walworth, Williams Bay, and the surrounding area have long been appreciated for their natural beauty. “Rolling hills, towering trees, grassy prairies and a sparkling lake set the backdrop for the best place to Live, Visit and Be in southeastern Wisconsin.

Senior visitors will find resorts, spas, bed & breakfasts, and quality restaurants in the area. Also boat outings, golf, and music festivals and treasure-filled antique stores.

Fontana is just a stone’s throw from the border of Illinois making it an easy journey from Chicago and not all that far from Milwaukee. Founded in 1874, the Lake Geneva Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most internationally renowned Inland Lake Yachting Association Clubs.

The Club is the site of numerous international and National Sailing competitions, so perhaps you will luck out and get to personally view one of these exciting events. Tours, cruises, fishing, dining or just soaking up the sun and more await your visit to Fontana.

Senior Shoppers Find Shopping Paradise

The Yerkes Observatory, Lake Geneva Petting Zoo, Clown Hall of Fame, Webster House Museum, Green Meadows Farm, Old World Wisconsin and the Wild Country Game Farm are all in the vicinity of Fontana. It’s a shopping paradise all around Fontana with plentiful outlet malls.

My wife and I have visited both Delavan and Elkhorn, next door to Fontana, towns loaded with history and amenities. All around Geneva Lake, senior visitors will find plenty to keep you busy.

For you history folks, stop by the Geneva Lake Museum of History then take in the Woodstock Opera House and pack a picnic for a visit to Woodstock Square Park. Toss your clubs in and play a round or two at the Big Foot Country Club. Plan a stay in one of the famed B&Bs in Fontana.

You will not lack for things to see and do in Fontana-on-Geneva Lake. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy the Spirit of the Lake

The town’s location on the lake first made it a shipbuilding hub, but today attracts an array of surfers who enjoy the thrill of challenging waves. Surfers like to refer to the coastline as the “Malibu of the Midwest.”

I’ve always liked city names like “Sheboygan” and they usually carry with them an interesting history. There are many theories as to how the city got its name, but the most likely one indicates Sheboygan was a Chippewa Indian word meaning “passage or waterway between the lakes.”

French explorers Jean Nicolett (1635) and Joliet and Marquette (1643) were probably the first “white men” to experience the shores of Sheboygan. Many years passed until in 1699, Father St. Cosme landed at a Pottawatomie Indian village at the site of the Sheboygan River.

Seniors Like Sport Fishing and Museum Hopping

Sheboygan is about 50 miles north of Milwaukee and 60 miles south of Green Bay. The Bookworm Gardens and the Kohler Arts Center are two top attractions in the city. Parks and museums abound and senior tourists enjoy them all.

If you enjoy fishing, take one of the sport-fishing charter boats and try your luck hauling in some good size salmon and trout. If you enjoy history, take the Wisconsin History Tour in Sheboygan. The county has 44 sites on the National Register of Historic Places and 23 are found in Sheboygan.

Migrants from New York, Michigan, and New England, were among the pioneers to the Sheboygan area in the 1830s. Among them were English immigrants, who had continued to enter the US in the early 19th century.

Lumbering was the first major industry and as one settler remarked “Nearly all the settlers were from the New England states and New York.” Today over 5,000 Hmong from Laos call Sheboygan home, resettling after the war in southeast Asia.

Seniors Attracted To The Arts

Senior visitors enjoy exploring three unique shopping areas – the South Pier Peninsula, the Riverfront Shanty Shops on the Boardwalk, as well as downtown Sheboygan.

The city is home to the refurbished 1920’s Stefanie Weill Center for the Performing Arts, as well as the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, nationally recognized for its collections of folk and vernacular art.

Seniors Discover ‘Newport of the West’

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with a population of just over 6,500 is a resort town located on Geneva Lake and is popular with senior tourists from nearby metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee. This Visitor Guide by Blue Toad lets you thumb through page by page and this one even has the sound of the pages as they turn.

The Lake Geneva Shore Path rates high with senior visitors. This 21-mile path allows hikers to literally walk through the back yards of century-old mansions. The path was created by the region’s earliest settlers who dictated that the 20 feet of land directly up from the shoreline be deemed public domain, like the beaches on the Big Island that are federally owned.

Today, their edict provides walkers with an unprecedented view of some of the most beautiful homes and landscaping in the midwest. The Lake is the second deepest lake in Wisconsin at 135 feet deep and 21 miles around. This popular resort area is known as “the Newport of the West.”

Geneva Lake Museum Draws Senior Visitors

Senior visitors are invited to tour Black Point Estate, one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture, and to view one of the most intact collections of Victorian furnishings in the Midwest.

The Estate includes the historic house and gardens overlooking Geneva Lake and was the summer home for wealthy Chicago business mogul Conrad Seipp and four generations of his descendants.

Geneva Lake Museum of History showcases a treasure trove of information and artifacts of the Lake Geneva area dating back to the 1880s. The Geneva Lake Museum, a must-see for senior history buffs like me, takes us back in time down the Museum’s authentic main street.

Riviera Beach is public and popular with swimmers, sunbathers, hikers and boaters. For senior golfers, Geneva National and Hawks View will fill the bill.

Vacation Destination Since Civil War Days

Originally called “Muck-Suck” (Big Foot) for a Potawatomi chief. The city was later named Geneva after a town in New York by the same name located on Seneca Lake. Many notables called Lake Geneva home but one that really stuck out for me was the bank robber, Baby Face Nelson.

Venetian Festival, a popular summer event celebrated 50 years this past summer. Lake Geneva is just a hop, skip and jump from the Illinois border making it convenient for weekenders from Chicago. After the Civil War, Geneva Lake became a popular place to vacation, and this trend has not stopped.